The Abia state government through the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Mayors from Bende and Arochukwu Local government areas has inaugurated the Education marshal task force with the responsibilities to move to all nook and cranny of the state to see that there is no out of school drop out.
This is in line with Governor Alex Otti’s vision to see that all Abian school age children have a high quality compulsory and free education.
The marshals taskforce, according to the Commissioner for information, Prince Okey Kanu, will be assisted by the state’s harmonised task force and other necessary community stakeholders to enforce this critical policy added that the taskforce would also be involved in picking out-of-school children during school hours.
Speaking further, Mr Goodluck Ubochi, Chairman of the Ministry of Primary and Basic Education, explained that when a child is picked up on the street during school hours , such a child will be used to locate either the parent, guardian or whoever had been keeping the child out of school and the reason behind it.
“With this, we can determine the reason for keeping the child out of school. You know we have a law that protects the child, and anybody that violates the law will be called to order.
“And that is what the education marshalls are out to do to ensure the policy succeeds. So, if anyone violates the child’s right, we will call the person to order in a mild form.
“Thereafter, the child will be registered in the nearest school to him or her in line with the governor’s directive that every child of school age in the state must benefit from the policy,” he said.
The government had in 2024 announced that all students, irrespective of their states of origin, will receive free education up to the secondary school level, starting from January 2025. The free education will run from primary one to Junior Secondary School three in all public schools.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing the press after the State Executive Council meeting. He said that parents and guardians who flouted the new policy would face prosecution.
He said from January 2025, parents and guardians who fail to send their children or wards to school will face legal consequences. Kanu emphasised that non-compliance with the education directive will be treated as a punishable offence.
“In line with the Abia Child’s Rights Law 2006, it’s now an offence for parents not to send their children or wards to school because the Government has made education free and compulsory,” Kanu warned.
The policy, according to him, is pursuant to the quest by the Governor Alex Otti-led administration, to deliver quality and affordable education to the state.
“There is no reason whatsoever why parents should not send their children to school,” he said.
“The issue of indigency is no longer the reason for non-acquisition of free and basic education in Abia State.